Hamas releases a video of an Israeli-American hostage in Gaza

A video of an Israeli-American captive pleading with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to negotiate his release from captivity was released by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on Saturday.

The 20-year-old captive soldier Edan Alexander’s family allowed the publication of the 3-1/2-minute film but declined to comment. When Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, Alexander was kidnapped and sent to Gaza.

In the footage, a gaunt Alexander is shown sitting against a wall in a dimly lit room, introducing himself and speaking to Trump, his family, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It is unknown if his kidnappers prepared his statement.

In a statement, Netanyahu said that the film was a form of brutal psychological warfare and that he had called Alexander’s family to assure them that Israel was making every effort to return the hostages.

It is estimated that almost half of the 101 Israeli and international hostages who are currently incommunicado in Gaza are still alive.

Hamas commanders were due to arrive in Cairo on Saturday for ceasefire negotiations with Egyptian authorities to examine methods to negotiate a compromise that may ensure the release of hostages in return for Palestinian detainees.

Washington said last week that it was restarting efforts toward that aim, which prompted the new offer.

Both the Trump administration, which assumes office in January, and the outgoing Joe Biden administration were encouraged by the Hostages Families Forum to intensify their efforts to obtain a captive release.

“The hostages’ lives hang by a thread,” it said.